My Citron finished...

I finished my citron and this is a picture before blocking.  I had some lavender worsted weight yarn and wanted to try this pattern.  I had been seeing it and loved the ruching and the ruffle and wanted to try knitting it.  It is a very easy pattern and can be found free on line. 
Love,
Marie

Doing a little crochet and knitting...

I have been spending these cold dreary day mostly wrapped up in my favorite afghan.  While cuddly warm, I have been doing some genealogy research for a friend—I find this so interesting.  I have also done a few yarn projects.

These are a couple of dishcloths that I knitted.  I did these by knitting with two strands of No. 10 crochet cotton--Aunt Lydia's.  I love the feel of these and being 100% cotton, I think they will launder well.
Using a size 8 knitting needle and contrasting colors.  You can't tell, but the bottom cloth is done by knitting with a strand of yellow and a strand of white.  The top cloth is done by using a strand of variegated and a strand of white.
Pattern:

Cast on 4 stitches
Row 1:  Knit
Row 2:  Knit 2, yo, knit the remaining stitches

Repeat Row 2 until it is as wide as you want it
then knit 1, knit 2 tog, yo, knit 2 tog, knit remaining
stitches. Continue until 4 stitch are left and then bind off
and work in ends.

This bag is crocheted and the pattern is on the front and inside of Crochet Today,
March/April 2013 issue.  I thought it was going to be hard to do, but it was not.

I hope you enjoyed 

your visit.

Love,

Marie

Thundersnow.....

  

This is a view out the bay window in our kitchen.  We had heavy rain off and on all day.  The temperature was in the low 50's most of the day.  At 6 pm, the rain was pouring down.  Then the temperature started dropping and by 8 pm it was snowing and thundering.  I have read today that is a rare occurrence.  I read a girl's blog from the UK today and she had the same thing happen on January 14--three days before us.  I found that interesting.  The snow was beautiful this morning but it is disappearing  quickly.  I hope we have another snow and that it comes during the daylight hours.

Love,

Marie

Here comes another New Year...

When I put away my Christmas decorations, I got out some of my snowmen  items. I thought

I could use them until February.  In front of the decorations is a loaf of apple bread I made. We were given a box of fruit for Christmas and I don't like not using or eating as much as we can.

 

 Praline- Topped Apple Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

1 cup sour cream

2 eggs

3 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups chopped peeled Granny Smith apples

1 1/4 cups chopped pecans, toasted, divided

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1.  In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In another bowl, beat the sugar, sour cream, eggs and vanilla until well blended.  Stir into the flour mixture just until moistened.  Fold in the apples and 1 cup pecans.

2.  Transfer to a greased 9-in. X 5-in. loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Remove to a wire rack to cool.

3.  In a saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil.  Cook and stir for 1 minute.  Spoon over bread.  Sprinkle with remaining pecans.

I bought this gold pin from Hospice Flee Market and tatted around it

with the red thread to wear during Christmas with my Christmas scarf.

This was a beautiful sunset from night before last.  The sky was a rose color

all the way around.  This almost looks like a fire.

I want to wish every one a great New Year.  I pray that it is filled with good health and

happiness.  I made a resolution and have already broken it.  I am pleased that for the past

two years I had kept my resolution to read the Bible all the way through.  This year, I have

a daily devotion that I am going to use.  

Love,

Marie

It is beginning to look like Christmas...

Our tree of angels that we leave up all year round.

One of several nativity sets in my collection.

This set was done by some senior's at a retirement home.  I have had it  for years.

Some of the dolls from my collection with a beautiful poinsettia given to us by 

a dear friend.

Snowman collection

I made these snow people out of gourds we grew.  I made the Christmas tree

back in 1969.

Christmas table.  I have had this Christmas china for years and just replaced two pieces. I was amazed at the value of it now.  I found the pieces at Replacements, Unlimited in Greensboro, NC.

Two views of the small tree in the bay window in our kitchen

I hope you enjoyed some of the views from our home.  We are going to be alone this Christmas.  Our children and grandchildren live too far to come. Our son and family were just here in October for a wedding and we spent a wonderful time together.  We decided to put out the things we love and we are going to make it a wonderful for us.  We just pray for good health through this season.  I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year.

Love,

Marie

Needles have been clicking....

This is a sweater that I crocheted by our little guy.  I found the pattern

at redheart. com and it is pattern WR1987.  The pattern is shown for a girl

but I changed the bottom holes to make it for a boy.

Little guy all dressed up at a wedding banquet and he has his best
friend with him.  I could not help but laugh when I saw this
picture.  I said "I see Mr. Raccoon got an invitation too".  I found a free
pattern for a rabbit that is made like Mr. Raccoon and made it.  His wonderful
friend was a gift and they are kinda expensive, so we hope he will want to carry
the rabbit around and if something happens to it, I can just knit another one.
Below are pictures of the rabbit.  It is on it's way to CA and a friend is going to
embroidery the face for me. The pattern can by found as a free e-book of toys at
Knitting Daily

Below is a little sweetheart in an ear flap hat I crocheted for her.

Below are Winter crochet wristers.  I made a pair for a woman and then a
pair for a little girl and I  a hat to go with hers.  You can find the free pattern
at RedHeart.com.

Thanks for stopping by to visit.

Love,

Marie

Trip to Mt. Airy...

We decided last Friday, before Sandy came, to drive up to the mountains.  It is a nice drive from our house to Mt. Airy.  It was a gorgeous day and the leaves were still beautiful in places.  We not only enjoyed the leaves but seeing the antique cars parked along Main Street and the crowds lined up at Snappy Lunch for the famous pork chop sandwich.

These are the mums in our yard today.  My husband took a picture because we may have frost tonight.

Love,

Marie

Fall at Melville Hill...

I enjoy early Fall with the crisp nights and comfortable days.  I love the beautiful leaves on the trees--don't like so much having to get someone to clean them up.  Our 15-month old grandson was just here from SF and had never played in leaves before and he loved it.  Hope you have a great Autumn season.
Love,
Marie

Last of Summer...........

Hope you enjoyed the flowers.  Even with the very hot temperatures here in NC this summer, Our flowers have been beautiful.  Now, they did take some tender loving care from my husband.
Love,
Marie